title: Mucin-like peptides from Echinococcus granulosus induce antitumor activity.
abstract: There is substantial evidence suggesting that certain parasites can have antitumor properties. We evaluated mucin peptides derived from the helminth Echinococcus granulosus (denominated Egmuc) as potential inducers of antitumor activity. We present data showing that Egmuc peptides were capable of inducing an increase of activated NK cells in the spleen of immunized mice, a fact that was correlated with the capacity of splenocytes to mediate killing of tumor cells. We demonstrated that Egmuc peptides enhance LPS-induced maturation of dendritic cells in vitro by increasing the production of IL-12p40p70 and IL-6 and that Egmuc-treated DCs may activate NK cells, as judged by an increased expression of CD69. This evidence may contribute to the design of tumor vaccines and open new horizons in the use of parasite-derived molecules in the fight against cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunobiology, School of Medicine, UdelaR, 11800 Montevideo, Uruguay.
authors.forename: Verónica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Noya
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bay
authors.forename: María Florencia
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Festari
authors.forename: Enrique P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: Ernesto
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chiale
authors.forename: Christelle
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ganneau
authors.forename: Françoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Baleux
authors.forename: Soledad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Astrada
authors.forename: Mariela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bollati-Fogolín
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Osinaga
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Freire
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology; D048209:Echinococcus granulosus / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D053762:Interleukin-12 Subunit p40 / Q000276:immunology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000276:immunology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects; D037181:Lectins, C-Type / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D009077:Mucins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D010455:Peptides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D000099192:CD69 Antigens
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D053762:Interleukin-12 Subunit p40; D015850:Interleukin-6; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D009077:Mucins; D010455:Peptides; D000099192:CD69 Antigens